Hammer

Abstract

A hammer includes a handle and a head. The handle includes a bottom end and an upper end. The head is disposed on the upper end of the handle. The handle and the head are separately formed structures. The handle is formed from sheet metal.

1 . A hammer comprising:
 a handle having a bottom end and an upper end, the handle comprising a steel core portion and a manually engageable grip portion surrounding a part of the steel core portion, the grip portion comprising an elastomeric material, a rubber based material, or a plastic based material; and   a steel head disposed on the upper end of the handle, the head having a steel bell portion and a steel claw portion,   wherein a bell portion axis extends centrally through the bell portion,   wherein the bell portion has a maximum side-to-side bell portion width that is measured perpendicular to the bell portion axis,   wherein a longitudinal axis of the hammer extends longitudinally through the handle,   wherein the hammer has a first thickness defined as a maximum side-to-side thickness measured perpendicular to and through the bell portion axis in an area between a forward boundary disposed 5 mm forward of the longitudinal axis and a rearward boundary disposed 25 mm rearward of the longitudinal axis, and   wherein a ratio of the maximum bell portion width to the first thickness of the hammer is larger than 4.6.   
     
     
         2 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein the forward boundary is disposed 25 mm forward of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The hammer of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the hammer has a claw thickness defined as a maximum side-to-side thickness of the hammer within a portion of the hammer disposed above the bell portion axis and between the forward boundary and rearward boundary; and   a ratio of the claw thickness to the first thickness is at least 2.8.   
     
     
         4 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hammer has a claw thickness defined as a maximum side-to-side thickness of the hammer within a portion of the hammer disposed above the bell portion axis and between the forward boundary and rearward boundary; and   a ratio of the claw thickness to the first thickness is at least 2.8.   
     
     
         5 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein the claw portion comprises a pair of tapered, forked nail removing members that laterally diverge from each other as they progress away from the bell portion, thereby providing a V-shaped space therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio is larger than 5.1. 
     
     
         7 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio is larger than 6.1. 
     
     
         8 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein the first thickness is less than 8 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein the head and handle core portion are separately formed steel structures. 
     
     
         10 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hammer has a head weight defined as a weight of the hammer disposed above a plane that is (a) tangent to a bottom most part of the bell portion and (b) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and   a ratio of the head weight measured in ounces to an overall length dimension of the hammer measured in inches is less than 1.10.   
     
     
         11 . The hammer of  claim 10 , wherein ratio of the head weight measured in ounces to the overall length dimension of the hammer measured in inches is 0.75 or larger. 
     
     
         12 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hammer has a head weight defined as a weight of the hammer disposed above a plane that is (a) tangent to a bottom most part of the bell portion and (b) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and   a ratio of an overall weight of the hammer measured in ounces to the head weight measured in ounces is at least 1.98.   
     
     
         13 . The hammer of  claim 12 , wherein the ratio of the overall weight of the hammer measured in ounces to the head weight measured in ounces is less than 2.4 or less. 
     
     
         14 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein as viewed in a cross-section through the bell portion in a plane that is perpendicular to the bell portion axis, the bell portion is substantially circular, except for an upper nail-receiving groove disposed along a top of the bell portion. 
     
     
         15 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein an overall length of the hammer is between 13.5 and 16.5 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The hammer of  claim 1 , wherein an overall weight of the hammer is between 26.5 and 31.0 ounces. 
     
     
         17 . A hammer comprising:
 a handle having a bottom end and an upper end, the handle comprising a steel core portion and a manually engageable grip portion surrounding a part of the steel core portion, the grip portion comprising an elastomeric material, a rubber based material, or a plastic based material; and   a steel head disposed on the upper end of the handle, the head having a steel bell portion and a steel claw portion, wherein a bell portion axis extends centrally through the bell portion,   wherein a longitudinal axis of the hammer extends longitudinally through the handle,   wherein the hammer has a first thickness defined as a maximum side-to-side thickness measured perpendicular to and through the bell portion axis in an area between a forward boundary disposed 5 mm forward of the longitudinal axis and a rearward boundary disposed 25 mm rearward of the longitudinal axis,   wherein the hammer has a claw thickness defined as a maximum side-to-side thickness of the hammer within a portion of the hammer disposed above the bell portion axis and between the forward boundary and rearward boundary, and   a ratio of the claw thickness to the first thickness is at least 2.0.   
     
     
         18 . The hammer of  claim 17 , wherein the ratio of the claw thickness to the first thickness is larger than 2.8. 
     
     
         19 . The hammer of  claim 18 , wherein the ratio of the claw thickness to the first thickness is less than 6.6. 
     
     
         20 . The hammer of  claim 17 , wherein the forward boundary is disposed 25 mm forward of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         21 . A hammer comprising:
 a handle having a bottom end and an upper end, the handle comprising a steel core portion and a manually engageable grip portion surrounding a part of the steel core portion, the grip portion comprising an elastomeric material, a rubber based material, or a plastic based material; and   a steel head disposed on the upper end of the handle, the head having a steel bell portion and a steel claw portion,   wherein a bell portion axis extends centrally through the bell portion,   wherein the bell portion has a maximum side-to-side bell portion width that is measured perpendicular to the bell portion axis,   wherein a longitudinal axis of the hammer extends longitudinally through the handle,   wherein, in at least one lateral cross section that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, disposed no more than 5 mm forward of the longitudinal axis, and disposed no more than 15 mm rearward of the longitudinal axis:
 the hammer has a first thickness defined as a maximum side-to-side thickness measured within the at least one cross-section in a region of the cross-section that is disposed between the bell portion axis and a point 60 mm below the bell portion axis, and 
 a ratio of the maximum bell portion width to the first thickness of the hammer is larger than 4.6. 
   
     
     
         22 . The hammer of  claim 21 , wherein the ratio is not more than  11 . 2 . 
     
     
         23 . A hammer comprising:
 a handle having a bottom end and an upper end, the handle comprising a steel core portion and a manually engageable grip portion surrounding a part of the steel core portion, the grip portion comprising an elastomeric material, a rubber based material, or a plastic based material; and   a steel head disposed on the upper end of the handle, the head having a steel bell portion and a steel claw portion,   wherein a bell portion axis extends centrally through the bell portion,   wherein a longitudinal axis of the hammer extends longitudinally through the handle,   wherein, in at least one lateral cross section that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, disposed no more than 5 mm forward of the longitudinal axis, and disposed no more than 15 mm rearward of the longitudinal axis:   the hammer has a first thickness defined as a maximum side-to-side thickness measured within the at least one cross-section in a region of the cross-section that is disposed between the bell portion axis and a point 60 mm below the bell portion axis,
 the hammer has a claw thickness defined as a maximum side-to-side thickness of the hammer within a portion of the at least one cross-section disposed above the bell portion axis, and 
 a ratio of the claw thickness to the first thickness is at least 2.0. 
   
     
     
         24 . The hammer of  claim 23 , wherein the ratio is at least 2.6. 
     
     
         25 . The hammer of  claim 23 , wherein the ratio is at least 3.5. 
     
     
         26 . The hammer of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one cross-section is taken 5 mm rearward of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         27 . The hammer of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one cross-section is taken 5 mm forward of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         28 . The hammer of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one cross-section is taken 15 mm rearward of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         29 . The hammer of  claim 23 , wherein the ratio is not more than 6.2.